A problem shared

It seems that sharing is all the rage in Shropshire. Ben Bentley reports.

A problem shared is a problem halved, as the old saying goes.

And in times of problems aplenty, people across Shropshire are sharing everything from car journeys, trips to the tip, land to grow fruit and veg on, books, children's toys and holidays, right down to their skills and talents, such as knitting and gardening.

In fact it seems that there are few areas of life you can no longer share.

• Vegetable swop - click here

Ruth Stafford lives in Mid Wales but happily halves her travel costs to and from work in Shrewsbury by sharing her daily car journey with a friend.

"I live in Montgomery and I car-share with my friend who works at Shrewsbury School," she says.

"It has got to the point where I can give up my car altogether in a couple of months. You get what little money for it that you can and you don't have the running costs."

It sounds wonderful. Until you have to work different hours or your job requires you to be in different places at the same time that your car-share companion wants to get home.

"We do it every day if possible but the point is that it is flexible – you don't have to do it every day, but you still save money."

Ruth, who runs the car-sharing scheme for the county's new unitary authority, says that around 1,000 council employees now use it.

But she also recommends that people try the online Liftshare website.

"That's good because it does not matter where you work. It does not have to be at the same place or in the same building – just as long as A to B is the same."

Other popular car-share sites include Journeyshare for Telford & Wrekin.

Sharing land has been a successful solution for people wishing to grow their own vegetables but who find they face years on a waiting list for an allotment.

Landshare.co.uk was set up by TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and offers an online matchmaking service for landowners and people looking to grow their own on someone else's land.

The arrangement has proved successful for Jemima Willis from Much Wenlock, whose small garden is unable to sustain a vegetable patch. Nick and Samantha Warner from nearby Harley had land to spare and posted its availability on the website.

Today, Jemima's patch is bearing the fruit of her labours and Nick says: "Hopefully this will encourage other people with a bit of land that they don't use to offer it to someone who could grow their own vegetables.

"I think it's a fantastic idea. There should be plenty of scope for this in Shropshire."

People are also sharing their skills. Shropshire-based Severnlets allows people to match-make their talents and trades and to swap and share them, using an old fashioned bartering system where no money changes hands.

Current members include a knitter who, effectively, might knock out a cardigan for someone who might spend several hours sprucing up the garden.

Alternatively the service provider is paid in virtual currency called "Shrews", which are credits that can be used to fund services from another member.

The group currently has around 80 members, one of whom is Paul Davies from Shrewsbury, who says: "I fix bicycles and I got a guy round to cut my hedge," he says.

"I pay his petrol costs and for his labour I pay him in Shrews.

"There are quite a few gardeners who are members, and we've got a dressmaker, music tutor and a lady who makes children's story bags.

"No-one ends up out of pocket."

And it really is a case of no job too small. One member called Maralyn has listed on the Severnlets website with the appeal: "Is there anyone who could put a new washer on a rather stiff tap? Don't want to waste water when folk don't turn it right off."

At the same time, estate agents are happy to report a growing trend that has arisen as a solution to a problem in the housing market.

At a time when fewer people can get mortgages and the market finds itself in a state of stagnation, house-sharing can be a solution.

Flatshare.com currently has a number of people looking to team up with others to share rooms and property.

More people are either taking lodgers or are teaming up with someone else to secure a decent mortgage or deposit on a rented property.

Job-sharing provides the best of both worlds for Oswestry librarian Heather Rodenhurst, who says: "I've been job-sharing with colleague Gwenan Griffiths for four years now and it's been the ideal working solution for me.

"I feel incredibly lucky to be able to work at a professional level doing the job I love, while also having plenty of time to spare for my home life with a young family.

"It does mean that I need to be very organised to fit in everything I want to accomplish at work during part-time hours, but the flexibility of a job-share is more than worth it – for me, it really is the best of both worlds."

Pet "sharing" is another area of growth. And the RSPCA centre near Condover welcomes people to come along and share walking duties with animals that need re-homing. It's an arrangement of convenience, where people reap the benefits of spending time with animals without the need to commit to full-time ownership.

• Do you share services or costs with someone else? If so contact Shropshire Star features desk on 01952 242424 or e-mail benbentley@shropshirestar.co.uk